Brian Hartline

Brian Jack Hartline was born on November 22, 1986. He began his football journey at GlenOak High School in North Canton, Ohio, initially as a quarterback before shifting to wide receiver during his sophomore year. Hartline also excelled in track and field, winning state championships in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles in 2005, showcasing his athletic versatility early on. He attended Ohio State where he redshirted his freshman year. He played an integral role for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2006 to 2008, contributing to their appearance in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game. He graduated in June 2009 with a degree in communication.

Hartline was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, marking the start of his seven-year professional career. During his six seasons with the Dolphins (2009–2014), he established himself as a reliable receiver, leading the team in receiving touchdowns in his rookie year and setting a franchise record for receiving yards in a single game with 253 in 2012. He achieved two consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2012 and 2013, the latter also being a career-high with 76 receptions. His NFL career also included a season with the Cleveland Browns in 2015, where he played 12 games before being released in May 2016.

Following his playing career, Hartline returned to Ohio State, joining the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2017. His coaching ascent was rapid, becoming interim wide receivers coach in 2018, a position made permanent later that year. He was promoted to passing game coordinator in 2021 and offensive coordinator in 2023, and again in 2025. During his tenure, he has been recognized for developing top-tier receiving talent, including multiple NFL Draft first-round picks like Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr. He was named the AFCA “35 Under 35” in 2019 and the 247Sports “National Recruiter of the Year” in 2020.